US2282019A - Automatic door bottom - Google Patents

Description

May 5, 1942 w. E. BALoUsEK AUTOMATIC DOORVBOTTOM Filed Aug. 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 um a bv/m 1%.@ A ,4L @a May 5, 1942 w. E. BALoUsEK 2,282,019

AUTOMATIC DOOR BOTTOM Filed Aug. 7, 1959 2 sheets-sheet? Patented May 5, 1942 FICE AUTOMATIC DQOR BOTTOM William E. Balousek, Hinsdale, Ill., assigner to W. J. Dennis & Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 7, 1939, Serial No. 288,823

(Cl. Ztl-63) 5 Claims.

The invention relates generally to weather strips, and more particularly to weather strips for use on the bottom of doors or other similar closures.

The invention has among its objects the construction of such a weather strip -which is simple in construction, efcient in operation `and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another very important object of the invention is the production lof a weather strip which is so constructed that leakage of air is substantially eliminated, at the same time providing a device which will work easily and smoothly with a minimum of friction.

Another object of the invention is the construction of such a device in which the sealing element may lbe described as floating, it being free to move longitudinally, thus allowing it to readily adjust itself to compensate for irregularities in the floor surface.

A further object of the vinvention is to the production of a device of the kind described employing novel means for securing the actuatingr member to the device and in other various details of construction as will be hereinafter described.

Many other objects and advantages yof the construction herein shown and described Will lbe obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view 'through the housing of the device, showing the door in open position, the sealing element being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the door in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the device at the end thereof adjacent the hinged edge of the door;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional yView taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing the actuating rod in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the housing, showing the construction thereof;

Fig. 7 is asimilar perspective view of a portion of the sealing member;

Fig. 8 is a similar viewof the actuating mechanism andvend plate;

kin these devices has been the relatively great amount of leakage of air around the sealing element. Variousmeans have been employed to eliminate this condition, but these have had the disadvantage of increasing the frictional resistl ance of the sealing element in the housing.

In the present device, the sealing element is free to move into and out of engagement with the floor as the door is opened or closed, but due to its interlocking construction as will hereinafter be described, passage of air around the sealing element is substantially eliminated.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 6, '7 and 8, it will be noted that the form illustrated comprises a housing I having side walls 2 and 3, respectively Iconnected by a top portion 4 to form a structure having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section. lThe side Wall 2 terminates in an outwardly extending flange 5, while extending from the lower edge of the side wall 3 is an inwardly extending partition or wall 6, the latter being spaced from the side wall 3 to form a narrow channel I therebetween. The sealing element designated generally by the numeral I I consists of a strip of yfelt I2 or other 'i suitable material which is carried by the member I3, the strip I2 being clamped by the U-shapecl portion I4 of the member I3, while the upper portion of the member is bent back upon itself to provide the wall I5 to form a narrow channel I6 similar to the channel 'I.

As shown in Fig. 4, the device is assembled with the walls 6 and I5 positioned in the channels I6 and 1, respectively, the two members being interlocked with one another so that the only way that they may -be separated is by drawing the one longitudinally from the other. It will `be noted that air leaking through the device would have to pass along the open face of the partition wall 6 of the housing around the edge thereof, down between the inner face of the wall I5 up between the outer face of the wall I5 between the same and the inner face of the side wall 3 and down between the side wall 2 and the adjacent face of the U-shaped portion Ill of the member I3. It will be apparent that at al1 times there will be one or more contacting surfaces between the walls 2, 3, 6, I4 and I5 and as the leakage path is comparatively long, little if any air will pass through the device. Obviously, the sealing element II is free to move in the housing. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and '1, the member I3 is provided with a pair of rollers I1 and I8 carried by suitable studs I9 riveted to the member I3 directly above the U-shaped portion I4, the wall I having apertures 29 positioned directly opposite the rivets I9 so that both sides of the rivet are accessible during mounting. A similar roller 2I is carried from the inner wall of the housing I as is a guide stud 22, the side wall 3 of the housing also being provided with oppositely disposed apertures, similar to the apertures 29 and serving the same purpose.

As shown in Fig. 8, a at spring or tape 23 is provided, the latter having one end thereof secured to a rod 24, the end of the latter being flattened as shown at 25 to receive the end of the spring which is secured thereto by rivets 25 or other suitable means. The rod 24 is threaded in an adjusting member 21, the end 28 of which extends through the end bracket 29. A coil spring 3I is secured at one end to the bracket 29 and at the other to the rod 24. As shown in Fig. 3, the latter end of the spring is coiled around the rod at 32, the opposite end passing through the eye 33 formed from the end bracket 29. The end 28 of the member 21 is of smaller diameter than the remainder of the member forming a shoulder 34, the latter adapted to seat on the inner face of the end bracket 29 to limit the outward movement of the member. The end bracket 29 is secured to the housing adjacent the end thereof at the hinged edge of the door, the rod 2'4 extending between the guide stud 22 and the top portion 4, the spring tape 23 passing over the roller 2I and between the rollers I1 and I3 on the member I3, with the free end of the spring secured to the housing.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 10, the housing is provided with an inwardly extending portion 35. This is formed by laterally cutting the housing and bending the same inwardly between a pair of cuts. The spring tape 23 as shown in Fig. l0, passes through the guide eye formed by the portion 35 and the housing. Extending between the spring 23 and the top portion 4 of the housing and also passing over the portion 33 is a bronze strip 31. The latter is secured to the top portion 4 by means of a rivet 38 and acts as a bearing surface for the spring 23, particularly one of the rivets 25. The top portion 4 is also provided with the portions 39, 4I and 42 similar to the portion 33 and formed in a similar manner to provide guides for the spring 23. The portion 42 is smaller in width than the portions 36, 39 or 4I and forms a smaller eye adapted to receive the narrow tongue 43 at the end 35 of the spring. Adjacent the tongue 43 in the end of the spring is a sm-all hole 44, the latter being adapted to receive a lug 45 punched from the top 4 of the housing, or other suitable means for locking the end ci the spring in operative position.

The end bracket 29, as shown, is constructed from sheet metal or other suitable material and is provided with two inwardly extending flanges 46 from which extend tongues 41. After the bracket is inserted in the housing I, the tongues 41 are bent outwardly through apertures 43 in both side walls 2 and 3, after which the tongues are bent back towards the bracket whereby the walls of the housing are securely clamped between the tongues 41 and the flanges 46. The upper portion 49 of the bracket is provided with a hole 5I for insertion of a mounting screw 52. This bracket serves several purposesinst it maintains the housing at the proper width, aligns the adjustment rod 21 and holds the end of the spring 3I. It also forms a simple means for further securing the housing to the door.

The device illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is assembled as follows:

rIhe sealing element II consisting of the felt strip I2 and member I3 is inserted longitudinally into the housing I, the portion I5 being inserted between the partition wall 5 and the side wall 3' of the housing, as shown in Fig. 4. The actuating assembly shown in Fig. 8 is then inserted in the housing, the spring tape 23 and rod 24 passing between the guide stud 22' and the top portion 4 of the housing. The spring 23 is then lnserted between the bronze strip 31 and the portion 36 of the housing as shown in Fig. 10. To facilitate this last step, a work hole 53 is provided in the side wall 2 adjacent the portion 36 through which by means of a suitable tool, the end 35 of the spring 23 may be guided into proper position; The spring then is inserted between the rollers I1 and I8, the spring passing over the roller I8 and under the roller I1. Another work hole 54 is provided in the top portion 4 of the housing directly above the rollers I1 and I8. The end 35 of the spring is then drawn through the apertures or eyes formed by the portions 39 and 4I, with the tongue 43 resting upon the portion 42 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be noted that when the tongue 43 is inserted into its furthermost position, the shoulder 55 will engage the housing adjacent the portion 42. When the end of the spring has reached the above position, the lug 45 is bent downwardly through the hole 44 in the end of the spring, thereby securely locking the end of the spring to the housing. The device is secured to a door or other closure by inserting the same in a channel 56 formed in the bottom edge of the door and is held in place by means of nails 51 or other suitable means passing through the flange 5 into the door. The end bracket 29 is set in the side edge of the door and secured thereto by the screw 52, the bracket being inset so that the outer face thereof is ush with the edge of the door. A plain end plate 29 may be secured to the opposite edge of the door by a screw 52 to conceal the end of the channel 56. The lower end of this plate may be bent inwardly along the bottom edge of the door and nailed thereto as shown at 30 in Fig, 1. 'I'he adjusting member 21 is then rotated by means of a screwdriver or the like inserted in the slot 58 until the total length of the spring 23, rod 24 and the member 21 is that required to give the most satisfactory results. Obviously, by shortening or lengthening these members, the downward movement of the sealing element II may be readily controlled. It might be added that the end of the member I3 adjacent the end bracket 29 may be cut away as shown at 59 in Figs. 5 and '7, the partition wall 6 also being shortened a corresponding distance so that the ears 41 on the end bracket may be readily secured to the side 3 of the housing.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 11, the adjustment member 21 is eliminated as is the spring 3|. The end of the rod 24 is extended through the bracket 29, as shown at 24', and is engageable with the door jamb. Instead of the screw 6I, an adjustable stop somewhat similar to that described in my Patent Number 2,022,930 is utilized. This comprises a cup-like casing or housing 62 in which pressure member or stop 63 is slidably carried, a compression springd urging the stop 63 outwardly, the latter being provided with a screw threaded shank 65 and a nut 66 for preventing the stop -from coming out of the housing. By turning the stop 63 with a screwdriver or other suitable tool placed in the slot 61 adjustment relative the end of the rod 24 can be made, the nut being prevented from turning by suitable shoulders 68 formed on the housing or other means, said shoulders preventing rotation of the nut, but allowing it to slide between them. The spring 64 is relatively stiff so that engagement of the end of the rod with the head of the screw will operate the Weather strip. However, when the Weather strip has been firmly engaged with the floor surface, the spring will give and move inwardly with the end of the rod 24, if such action should take place.

In operation the device will normally assume the position shown in Fig. 1, the door being in open position, with the sealing element II drawn within the housing out of contact with the floor surface. It will remain in this position until the door has been closed sufficiently to allow the end 28 of the member 2l to engage the face of the door jamb. The latter is preferably provided with a screw BI, the head of which is positioned to engage the end 2B of the member 2T and thereby prevent marring of the door jamb by the same. Instead of the screw 6I a large tack or otherwise suitably formed element may be employed. When the end 28 engages the screw 6I, it will move the member 21 inwardly until it will iinally reach the position shown in Fig. 2. As the end 35 of the spring 23 is secured to the housing, the spring will buckle as shown in Fig. 2 and will exert pressure on the roller I3, thereby forcing the sealing element II down into engagement with the floor surface. Upon opening of the door, the spring will again assume the position shown in Fig. 1 and by means of its engagement with the roller I'I, will carry the sealing element II up into the housing. It will be noted that the sealing element II is not connected to the spring 23, but is merely actuated by the same by engagement thereof with either the roller II or the roller I8. As the element is not connected to the spring, it might be termed floating in the housing and free to readily adjust itself to compensate for irregularities in the floor surface. Likewise, as the pressure of the spring is exerted downwardly at only one point, namely, upon the roller I8, the pressure will be uniformly distributed throughout the length of the sealing element. It will be noted that neither the rod nor the adjacent end of the spring comes into contact with the upper portion 4 of the housing, all frictional contact taking place on the bronze strip 3l. As the inner end of the spring 3| is looped about the rod 24 and engages the end of the member 2l, the adjustment between the same will be readily maintained and the member 21 will be prevented from rotating relative the rod except when manually adjusted. As previously mentioned, due to the interlocking construction of the sealing element and the housing, air leakage through the housing will be reduced to a minimum, there always being frictional contact between two or more of the adjacent surfaces of the side wall 3, partition wall 6 and the walls of the member I`3. The interlocking construction alsoforms guiding means for the sealing element insuring vertical movement of the element and preventing lateral movement thereof in the housing. Likewise, I have provided a door check in which the sealing element is substantially floating in its housing so that it will readily align 'itself and eii'lciently seal the door. While the device illustrated is shown as being mounted in a channel in 'the lower edge of the door or other closure member, obviously vthe device would be readily adapted for mounting on the face o'f the door adjacent the lower edge thereof.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a weather strip, the combination of an inverted U-shaped housing, and an end plate positioned adjacent an end of said housing, the latter having a plurality of apertures therein, said plate having flanges extending therefrom positioned adjacent the side Walls of said housing, said flanges being spaced from the edges of said plate to form shoulders thereon engageable with the supporting member on which the strip is mounted and a tongue carried by each flange extending through the apertures in said housing and parallel with said side walls to secure said plate thereto.

2. In a weather strip, the combination of a supporting member, a sealing element carried by said member, and a tape operatively engageable with said element and at one end with actuating means therefor, said tape having a tongue adjacent the opposite end thereof to form a shoulder, said tongue passing through a projecting portion of said member with said shoulder butting thereagainst, said tape having an aperture therein adjacent the end thereof, and means carried by said member positioned in said aperture to lock said tape to said member.

3. In a weather strip, the combination of a housing, a sealing element carried by said housing, and a tape operatively engageable with said element and at one end with actuating means therefor, said tape having a tongue adjacent its free end to form a shoulder, the end of said tape passing through inwardly extending portions of the housing with said shoulder butting against one of said inwardly extending portions, said tape having an aperture therein intermediate said inwardly extending portions and a portion of said housing positioned in said aperture to lock said tape to said housing.

4. In a weather strip, the combination of a housing of inverted substantially U-shaped crosssection comprising a top portion and side walls extending downwardly therefrom, one of said side walls terminating in an outwardly extending ange, the other side wall terminating in an inwardly extending portion and a partition wall extending upwardly from said last mentioned portion, and spaced from said second side wall to form a relatively narrow channel therebetween, a sealing element positioned in said housing having downwardly extending walls positioned on opposite sides of said partition wall with one of said walls in said channel, said element engageable with the surface to be sealed, and actuating means carried by the housing and operatively connected with the wall of said element positioned exteriorly said channel for rnoving said sealing element into and out of operative engagement with said surface.

5. In a weather strip, the combination of a housing comprising a top portion and side walls extending downwardly therefrom, one of said side walls terminating in an outwardly extending flange, the other side wall terminating in an ine wardly extending portion and a partition 'wall extending upwardly from said last mentioned portion and spaced from said second side wall to form a relatively narrow channel therebetween, a member carried in said housing having downwardly extending walls positioned on opposite sides of said partition wall, with one of said walls in said channel, the other Wall terminating in an inverted U-shaped portion, a strip of suitable material carried in said U-shaped portion and engageable with the surface to be sealed, and actuating means carried by the housing for moving said member to operatively engage or disengage said strip with the surface t0 be sealed.

WILLIAM E. BALOUSEK.

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